Wielkopolski Province Genealogical Website

The Wielkopolskie region or Wielkopolskie
voivodship (in Polish, województwo wielkopolskie) is an
administrative region of western-central Poland that was
created in January 1999 out of the former Poznan, Kalisz,
Konin, Pila and Leszno voivodships. The province's name
recalls the region's traditional name of Greater (or Great)
Poland (Wielkopolska).

It is second in area and third in population
among the country's sixteen voivodships, with 29,826 sq.
km. and 3.4 million inhabitants. Its principal cities are
Poznan (population 575,000), Kalisz (107,000), Konin (84,000),
Pila (77,000), Ostrów Wielkopolski (75,000), Gniezno (72,000)
and Leszno (63,000).

Over the years, the geographic area occupied by the present
day province of Wielkopolski has been know by a variety of
names and with ever changing borders.

Prior to the most recent changes in the number and
boundries of administrative districts (provinces) in January
1999, much of this area was known as the province of Poznan,
one of 49 Polish administrative districts established in 1975.
The original Province of Poznan (Posen in German) was much
larger than that 1975 province which carried the same name. It
included the 1975 province of Poznan and parts of seven other
Polish provinces from the 1975 boundries: Bydgoszcz, Pila,
Gorzow, Zielona Gora, Lesno, Kalisz, and Konin. C

The Province of Poznan had its roots in a geographical area
of Poland known as Wielkopolska (or Great Poland).

This area dates back to the late 10th century and is known
as the cradle of the Polish state. Poznan is the major city in
Wielkopolska. As a result of the Second Partition of Poland in
1793, Wielkopolska was taken over by Prussia and underwent
intensive Germanization.

From 1815-1848 the Prussian-occupied area of Wielkopolska
was officially known as the Grand Duchy of Posen. However, the
province was commonly known by the name of its capital city,
Poznan. This has lead to some confusion and ambiguity with
respect to genealogical research. The name Posen or Poznan
(found in various records) can refer to the city, the
older/larger Prussian province of Posen, or the current Polish
province.

Dear Researcher:

Thank you for your interest and sharing genealogical information with our project. Unfortunately, as Coordinator I am unable to do research requests and/or look-ups You may visit our Message Board and submit the information there. Good Luck with your research and remember that all research starts at your local public library. caroldunn789@yahoo.com
Carol Dziedziula Dunn